Book pressing machine with removable creaser irons and tool for removing same



BOOK PRESSING TH R VAB CREASER IRONS AND TOOL FOR REM NG E Filed D80. 7. 1967 Sheet of 2 1 NVEN'IOR. JAMES H. THORP ATT RNEYS April 15, 1969 J. H. THORP 3,438,075

HINE W BOOK PRESSING MAC REMOVABLE CREASER IRONS AND TOOL F0 EMOVING SAME 2 Filed Dec. 7, 1967 Sheet of 2 United States Patent 3 438,075 BOOK PRESSING MACHINE WITH REMOVABLE CREASER IRONS AND TOOL FOR REMOVING SAME James H. Thorp, West Hartford, Conn., assignor to The Smyth Manufacturing Company, Bloomfield, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Filed Dec. 7, 1967, Ser. No. 688,831 Int. Cl. B42c 19/00, 13/00 U.S. Cl. 11-1 18 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Background of the invention In the construction of book pressing machines, it is a conventional practice to provide an elongated book channel, a means for transporting books intermittently through the channel, and a series of pressing and creasing stations along the channel. Each pressing and creasing station is provided conventionally with a pair of opposing presser plates and a pair of opposing creaser irons for operation on the sides of a book transported to and positioned at rest in the station. In some pressing machines the books are transported through the channel from station to station in a back-down attitude and, accordingly, the creaser irons are arranged beneath the presser plates at each station. Other pressing machines accommodate book passage through the channel in a back-up attitude and have creaser irons arranged above the presser plate. In either construction, but more particularly in the back-down construction, the creaser irons may be relatively inaccessible for removal and replacement. Such removal and replacement of creaser irons may be necessary for ordinary maintenance and/or substitution of creaser irons of various specific characteristics in accordance with the various types of books accommodated by the pressing machine.

Summary of invention It is the general object of the present invention to provide a book pressing machine which has a pair of spaced presser plates on opposite sides of a book channel and a pair of spaced creaser irons on opposite sides of the channel, the presser plates and creaser irons being relatively movable horizontally to expose upper portions of the creaser irons to a vertical access path extending through the book channel between the presser plates, the creaser irons being releasably mounted on support members with locking devices accessible at upper portions, and a remova1 and replacement tool 'being provided for cooperation with the creaser irons and adapted to operate the locking devices and to transport creaser irons through the book channel for ease and convenience in the creaser iron removal and replacement operation.

In fulfillment of this object, the creaser irons are provided with a quick-release locking device which is exposed through the aforesaid vertical access path and the removal and replacement tool is so constructed that an operator of the same can actuate the tool from a remote location 3,438,075 Patented Apr. 15, 1969 adjacent end portions of the presser plates opposite the creaser irons, the necessity of reaching between presser plates to relatively inaccessible creaser irons being thus obviated. On actuation of the tool by the operator creaser irons can be locked and/or released and can 'be removed from their support members and transported through the aforesaid access path between the presser plates in engagement with and carried by an opposite end portion of the removal and replacement tool. Thus, the removal and replacement tool carries means at the opposite end portion both for operating the locking device and for gripping and transporting the released creaser irons and all such operation can be remotely accomplished at the end of the tool actuated by maintenance personnel or other operators of the tool. The releasable mounting features of the creaser irons and their locking devices are characterized by desirable simplicity of construction and ease and convenience of operation, and the removal and replacement tool exhibits similar attributes.

The drawings show a preferred embodiment of the invention and such embodiment has been described but it will be understood that various changes may -be made from the construction disclosed, and that the drawings and description are not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims forming a part of the specification being relied upon for that purpose.

Brief description of the drawings FIG. 1 is a fragmentary top view of a book pressing machine constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary end view of the pressing machine taken generally as indicated at 2, 2 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken generally as indicated at 3, 3 in FIG. 2 and showing the removal and replacement tool and a portion of a creaser iron and its support member.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged vertical section taken generally as indicated at 4, 4 in FIG. 3 and showing the removal and replacement tool and portions of the creaser iron and its support member.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken generally as indicated at 5, 5 in FIG. 3 and showing stop means on the tool.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged horizontal section taken generally as indicated at 6, 6 in FIG. 3 and showing portions of the creaser iron, its support member, and a locking device for the creaser iron.

Description of the preferred embodiment The book pressing machine partially shown in the drawings forms the subject matter of my copending US. patent application Ser. No. 676,769, entitled Book Pressing Machine with Improved Presser Plate and Conveyor Mechanism and with Improved Dual Channel Arrangement, filed Oct. 20, 1967. Accordingly, the machine is illustrated in the present drawings and described herein only to the extent necessary for an understanding of the present invention, and reference may be had to the said application if further illustration and description is desired.

Referring particularly to FIG. 1, it will be observed that the pressing machine includes horizontally elongated first and second, or left and right hand book channels or passageways 10 and 10a. The passageways 10 and 10a are arranged in parallel and adjacent relationship and each passageway accommodates the longitudinal passage of a series of books in the direction indicted by the arrows 12, 12. Introduction of books at the entrance end of the channels 10, 10a may be accomplished manually or, in accordance with the presently preferred practice, automatic feed means, not shown, may be provided for intermittently advancing books to the channels. Books are 3 transported through the respective channels intermittently and in simultaneous movement.

A longitudinally extending series of work stations is provided in each of the channels 10, a and a first station is indicated in the channel 10 at A, and a second station is partially shown at B. Corresponding stations Aa and Ba are indicated in the channel 10a. Presser plate arrangements at the several stations may be identical and it will therefore suffice to mention outer and inner presser plates 16 and 18 at the station A. The said plates form an opposing or opposite pair of plates adapted for movement into and out of engagement with the side of a book positioned at the station A. Corresponding presser plates are identified at 16a and 18a at the station All in the channel 10a.

The presser plate 16 is mounted on a support member 20 with its inner face disposed substantially in a vertical plane for book engagement. Presser plates at the station B et seq. in the channel 10 are also mounted on the member 20 and the member is adapted for right and left hand movement respectively for engagement and disengagement of the plates thereon with the sides of books in the channel 10. An operating means for the support member 20 is indicated generally at 22 and is illustrated and described more fully in the aforesaid copending application. A corresponding support member for the presser plate 16a et seq. is indicated at 20a with an operating means 22a.

A longitudinally extending support member is provided at 24 for the presser plate 18 et seq. and a similar support member 24a carries the presser plate 18a et seq. Movement of the support members 24 and 24a to urge their presser plates into and out of engagement with books in the channels 10, 10a is provided for by means of an intermittently reciprocable drive bar 26 and by toggle links 28, 30 described more fully in the aforesaid copending patent application.

Creaser irons are also identical in arrangement and construction at the several stations and it is therefore appropriate to describe only creaser irons 32, 34 illustrated in outer-inner relationship at the station A in channel 10, FIG. 2. Support members 36, 38 respectively mount the creaser irons 32, 34 and similar support members 36a, 38a carry creaser iron 32a, 34a at the station An in the channel 10a. As best illustrated in FIG. 1, a transversely extending rack 40 is secured to the support member 38 and a second transversely extending rack 42 is secured to the support member 36a. The racks 40, 42 are reciprocated intermittently by an operating means 44, FIG. 2, to move the creaser irons 32, 32a into and out of their respective channels for engagement and disengagement with the joint areas of books in the channels. Similarly, racks 46 and 48 connect with the support members 38a and 36 respectively and with an operating means therefor at 50. The operating means 44 and 50 are illustrated and described more fully in the aforesaid pending application, and it is to be noted that the operating means have associated adjusting means whereby relative horizontal movement can be effected between creaser irons and presser plates. Thus, the creaser irons can be moved to positions where upper portions thereof are exposed to a vertical access path extending downwardly through the book channels. The creaser irons 32 and 34a are shown in such positions in FIG. 2 and the vertical access path comprises the space occupied by the tool 80 therein.

Still referring to FIG. 2, it will be observed that the presser plates extend vertically downwardly but terminate short of the creaser irons leaving a longitudinally extending area of substantial vertical dimension between the lower edge of the plates and creaser irons. A book transfer device is provided for each of the channels 10, 10a and is disposed in the vertical space between the presser plates and the creaser irons. As shown, each book transfer device comprises a pair of similar 4 intermittently movable continuous conveyors of the slatted type. Outer and inner or left and right hand conveyors adjacent the channel 10 are indicated generally at 52, 54 and similar conveyors for the channel 10a are indicated generally at 52a and 54a. Each of the conveyors 52, 54 and 52a, 54a has an inner or operative run and a return run. The inner or operative run is disposed vertically between the corresponding presser plates and creaser irons and engages and transports the books from station to station, and said run also serves to press the portion or parts of the book sides therebeneath. Further illustration and description thereof is found in the aforesaid application.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the presser plates, creaser irons and transfer devices of the pressing machine can be operated in suitably timed relationship to provide for efiicient and high speed operation of the pressing machine. It will be further apparent, particularly in the case of a high production machine, that maintenance or down time must be held at a minimum level. Creaser irons must of course be removed and replaced and/or substitution of creaser irons must be accomplished and this has heretofore constituted a difiicult and time consuming down time operation. The relative inaccessibility of the creaser irons makes it a difiicult and time consuming task to release, remove, and replace the same. In this connection, it is to be noted that the inaccessibility of creaser irons is in no way dependent upon the particular geometrical or directional relationship set forth herein. Thus, it is to be understood that the invention is in no way limited to pressing machines accommodating books in a back down attitude. Directional or geometrical terms such as vertical, horizontal, upper, lower, upwardly, downwardly are employed herein and in the claims which follow for convenience of description only, and are not to be taken as limiting the invention in any way.

The manner in which the present invention provides for rapid and convenient creaser iron removal and re placement will now be described with particular reference to FIGS. 3 through 6. Each support member, as illustrated in the case of the support member 36 in FIG. 4, is provided With a horizontally extending and inwardly opening slot 56. A rear portion 58 of the creaser iron 32 is slidably entered in the slot 56 so as to support the creaser iron in its operative position for book engagement and disengagement. An adjustable stop bolt 60 engages the rear portion 58 of the creaser iron and is threadably entered in a suitable opening 62 in the support member and provided with a lock nut 64. As will be apparent, the creaser iron 32 can be secured in the position shown for operation and can be conveniently removed from the support member in a horizontal sliding movement.

A quick release locking device is provided for securing the creaser irons in their support members and such device may vary widely in construction but is characterized by an upwardly exposed operating means which can be actuated through the aforesaid vertical access path between the presser plates. In the preferred form shown, the locking device comprises an opening 66 in the creaser iron 32, FIG. 6, which has a rearwardly opening mouth substantially narrower than its interior. The opening 66 may vary in configuration, but is shown as being partially circular and extending through approximately 270.

The locking device also comprises a locking element indicated generally at 68 and which is carried by the creaser iron support member 36 and movable with respect thereto between lock and release positions in the opening 66. More particularly, the locking element 63 engages the walls of the interior of the opening 66 in its lock position so as to be retained therein and is free to pass through the narrow mouth of the opening in its release position. In preferred form, the locking ele ment 68 is shown as a rotary locking bolt having a body portion 70 and a head portion 72. The head portion 72 may be said to have first and second radial dimensions which are respectively larger and smaller than the width of the mouth of the opening 66 in the creaser iron. Thus, in FIG. 6, the first or major radial dimension of the head portion 72 is arranged across the mouth of the opening 66 and the locking bolt is in its lock position. Outer surfaces 74, 74 of the head portion are preferably partially circular as shown and complementary with the Walls of the opening 66 so as to provide for a cam action when the locking bolt is rotated to the position shown, said cam action serving to seat the rear portion 58 of the creaser iron firmly against the stop bolt 60.

As will be apparent, the locking bolt 68 can be rotated through a quarter-turn to align its second or minor radial dimension with the mouth of the opening 66, and in such release position, the creaser iron 32 can be removed from its support member with the head portion 72 of the locking element passing through the mouth of the opening 66. Various operating means for the locking device can of course be provided within the scope of the invention, but it is presently preferred to employ a simple screwdriver slot 76 in the head portion 72 of the locking bolt.

In the removal and replacement of creaser irons it is of course also necessary to provide for the gripping and transport of a creaser iron so it can be removed horizontally from its support member and thereafter raised along the vertical access path between the presser plates. As best shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the creaser iron 32 is provided with a pair of small cylindrical openings 78, 78. The openings 78, 78 are spaced apart longitudinally along the creaser iron with the locking device disposed therebetween. Such spacing of the openings 78, 78 is important for a reason to be set forth hereinbelow.

An elongated creaser iron removal and replacement tool is indicated generally at 80 in FIGS. 3 and 4, and in accordance with the invention, the tool is adapted to enter the aforementioned vertical access path with a lower end portion thereof adjacent an upper portion of a creaser iron and an upper end portion exposed adjacent an upper portion of the presser plates for remote operation. Further in accordance with the invention, the lower end portion of the tool includes a means operatively engageable with the locking device 68 on a creaser iron and a means releasably engageable with the creaser iron to support and carry the same in removal from its support member and in movement along the access path. The upper end portion of the tool includes a manually actnable means for operating the aforesaid means at the lower end portion thereof.

More particularly, the tool 80 has a vertically extending body portion 82 which has secured thereto upper and lower brackets 84, 86. The brackets 84, 86 are provided with suitable vertically extending cylindrical openings 88, 88 which slidably receive a screwdriver-like element 90 having a lower end portion 92 shaped to fit the aforesaid slot 76 in the head portion of the locking bolt 68. At its upper end portion, the element 90 carries a cloverleaf hand knob 94 for remote actuation of the screwdriver-like element and the locking device. A spring seating member 96 is fixed to the element 90 above the upper bracket 84 and a small biasing spring 98 is disposed between the same and the bracket 84. Thus, the element 90 is urged upwardly by the spring but can be urged downwardly under manually exerted pressure on the knob 94 to enter the lower end portion 92 of the element 90 in a slot 76. When the said end portion 92 has been entered in the slot 76 and a quarter-turn of the locking device has been accomplished, the spring 98 will serve to urge the element 90 and its end portion 92 upwardly so as to provide clearance between said end portion and the slot 76 for free outward movement of the tool effecting horizontal removal of the creaser iron from its support member. A vertical stop means opposing the spring 98 is provided in the form of a small pin 100 which engages a downwardly facing horizontal surface 102 on the lower bracket 86.

A stop means in the form of a second small pin 104 is fixed to the element at an upper portion thereof and cooperates with the stop pin in limiting rotation of the element 90 through a preselected angle, the limitation being to a 90 angle in a quarter-turn arrangement of the tool and locking device as provided for herein. As best shown in FIG. 5, vertically facing surfaces 106 and 108 are provided on the lower bracket 86 to engage the pin 100 and to limit the element 90 to a quarter turn. Similar surfaces are provided on the upper bracket 84 for engagement with the pin 104.

The means for gripping the creaser iron in the preferred form of the tool shown comprises a pair of spaced vertically depending pins 110, 110. The pins 110, 110 have threaded upper end portions entered in a horizontal crossbar 112 at a lower end portion of the body 82 and secured in adjusted positions by means of lock nuts 115, 115. At lower end portions, the pins 110, 110 are split or bifurcated and have enlarged head portions adapted to be compressed approximately to the diameter of the remaining portions of the pins. The pins 110, 110 are spaced apart so as to enter and pass through the aforementioned openings 78, 78 in the creaser iron 3-2. On entering the openings, the bifurcated enlarged head portions 114, 114 are compressed and as they emerge from the opening 78, 78 the said portions expand to provide for a frictional resistance against upward withdrawal of the pins. Thus, the tool 80 can be manipulated remotely at its upper end portion to effect horizontal removal of the creaser iron 32 from its support member 36 and to raise the creaser iron upwardly along the access path between the presser plates.

The aforementioned spacing of the openings 78, 78 along the creaser iron and a similar spacing of the pins 110, 110 provides for ease in removal of the creaser irons from their support members. Thus, if a degree of sticking or frictional resistance is encountered in the straight horizontal removal of the creaser iron, the knob 44 can be rotated with the stop pins 100 and 104 in engagement with one of their limiting surfaces and the creaser iron can thus be readily removed in a pivotal or twisting action. That is, rotation of the knob in a clockwise direction will cause the righthand pin 110 in FIG. 6 to swing arcuately downwardly even though the lefthand portion of the creaser iron may remain in engagement with the support member.

I claim:

1. In a book pressing machine having at least one book pressing and creasing station comprising a pair of spaced presser plates on opposite sides of a book channel and a pair of spaced creaser irons on opposite sides of the channel and disposed respectively beneath the presser plates, said presser plates and creaser irons being relatively movable horizontally to expose upper portions of the creaser irons to a vertical access path extending down wardly through the book channel between the presser plates, the combination of support members for releasably mounting said creaser irons for removal and replacement and locking devices accessible at upper portions of the creaser irons, and an elongated creaser iron removal and replacement tool adapted to enter said vertical access path with a lower end portion adjacent an upper portion of a creaser iron and an upper end portion exposed adjacent an upper portion of the presser plates, said lower end portion of said tool including a means operatively engageable with a locking device on a creaser iron and a means releasably engageable with the creaser iron to support and carry the same in movement along said access path between the presser plates, and said upper end portion of said tool including a manually actnable means for operating said means at said lower end portion thereof.

2. The combination in a book pressing machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said creaser iron engageable means, at said lower end portion of said tool, comprises a pair of creaser iron engageable elements arranged in spaced relationship to releasably engage and to support a creaser iron at spaced locations along its length.

3. The combination in a book pressing machine as set forth in claim 2 wherein each of said creaser irons is provided with a pair of vertical openings which extend therethrough and which are spaced along its length, and wherein said creaser iron engageable elements take the form of vertically depending pins with enlarged vertically bifurcated end portions, said pins being spaced so as to enter and to pass through said creaser iron openings and said enlarged bifurcated portions being of such size that they are compressed in passage through the openings whereby to expand on emerging from the openings and to provide frictional retaining forces for the support and transport of a creaser iron on the tool.

4. The combination in a book pressing machine as set forth in claim 2 wherein each of said support members is provided with a horizontally extending slot which opens toward the book channel and which receives and supports a horizontally extending rear portion of a corresponding creaser iron, said tool being employed initially to disengage the creaser iron from its slot in horizontal movement toward the book channel.

5. The combination in a book pressing machine as set forth in claim 4 wherein each said locking device comprises an opening in a rear portion of the corresponding creaser iron having a rearwardly opening mouth substantially narrower than its interior, and a locking element carried by the corresponding creaser iron support member and movable with respect to the support member between lock and release positions in said openings, said element engaging the walls of the interior of the opening in its lock position so as to be retained therein and being free to pass through the mouth of the opening in its release position.

6. The combination in a book pressing machine as set forth in claim 5 wherein said locking element is rotatably carried by said support member and has an upwardly exposed head portion with first and second normal radial dimensions respectively larger and smaller than the width of the mouth of said opening in the creaser iron.

7. The combination in a book pressing machine as set forth in claim 6 wherein a slot is provided in the upwardly exposed head portion of said locking element, and wherein said tool means operatively engageable with the locking device takes the form of a screwdriver-like element adapted to be entered in said slot for rotation of the locking element between its lock and release positions.

8. The combination in a book pressing machine as set forth in claim 7 wherein said creaser iron opening and locking element are constructed for lock and release operation in response to partial lock element rotation through a preselected angle, and wherein stop means are provided on said tool to limit rotation of the screwdriver-like element thereon to said preselected angle.

9. The combination in a hook pressing machine as set forth in claim 8 wherein said opening, locking element, and stop means are constructed to provide for quarterturn lock and release operation.

10. The combination in a book pressing machine as set forth in claim 9 wherein said screwdriver-like element is supported on said tool for vertical sliding movement, and wherein an upwardly acting biasing spring and an upward vertical stop means is provided to provide for resilient downward and slot entering movement of the screwdriver-like element and for upward movement of the same under the urging of the spring to an inoperative position.

11. In a book pressing machine having at least one book pressing and creasing station comprising a pair of spaced presser plates on opposite sides of a book channel and a pair of spaced creaser irons on opposite sides of the channel and disposed respectively beneath the presser plates, said presser plates and creaser irons being relatively movable horizontally to expose upper portions-of the creaser irons to a vertical access path extending downwardly through the book channel between the presser plates, the combination of support members for releasably mounting said creaser irons for removal and replacement and locking devices accessible at upper portions of the creaser irons, each said support member being provided with a horizontally extending slot which opens toward the book channel and which receives and supports a horizontally extending rear portion of a corresponding creaser iron, and each said locking device being so positioned as to be exposed upwardly to said vertical access path for lock and release operation by an elongated tool entered downwardly along said path.

12. The combination in a book pressing machine as set forth in claim 11 wherein each said locking device comprises an opening in a rear portion of the corresponding creaser iron having a rearwardly opening mouth substantially narrower than its interior, and a locking element carried by the corresponding creaser iron support member and movable with respect to the support member between lock and release positions in said opening, said element engaging the walls of the interior of the opening in its lock position so as to be retained therein and being free to pass through the mouth of the opening in its release position.

13. The combination in a book pressing machine as set forth in claim 12 wherein each of said creaser irons is provided with a pair of vertical openings which extend therethrough rearwardly of the book engaging surfaces thereof and which are spaced along its length, said openings serving to facilitate gripping and transport of the creaser irons by a suitable tool lowered along said vertical access path.

14. The combination in a book pressing machine as set forth in claim 13 wherein said locking element is rotatably carried by said support member and has an upwardly exposed head portion with first and second normal radial dimensions respectively larger and smaller than the width of the mouth of said opening in the creaser iron.

15. The combination in a book pressing machine as set forth in claim 14 wherein a slot is provided in the upwardly exposed head portion of said locking element for engagement by a screwdriver-like element, and wherein said locking element is constructed to provide for quarter-turn lock and release operation.

16. For use in a book pressing machine having at least one book pressing and creasing station comprising a pair of spaced presser plates on opposite sides of a book channel and a pair of spaced creaser irons on opposite sides of the channel and disposed respectively beneath the presser plates, said presser plates and creaser irons being relatively movable horizontally to expose upper portions of the creaser irons to a vertical access path extending downwardly through the book channel between the presser plates, and said creaser irons being releasably mounted for removal and replacement and having a pair of spaced vertical openings and a locking device therebetween with an upwardly exposed screwdriver slot for operation of the device; an elongated creaser iron removal and replacement tool adapted to enter said vertical access path with a lower end portion adjacent an upper portion of a creaser iron and an upper end portion exposed adjacent an upper portion of the presser plates, said lower end portion of said tool including a screwdriver-like element adapted to enter said slot in said locking device and a pair of spaced vertically depending pins with enlarged vertically bifurcated end portions, said pins being spaced so as to enter and to pass through said creaser iron openings, and said enlarged bifurcated end portions being of such size that they are compressed in passage through the openings whereby to expand on emerging from the openings and to provide frictional retaining forces for the support and transport of a creaser iron on the tool, and said upper end portion of said tool including a manually actuable means for operating said pins and screwdriver-like element.

17. The combination ina book pressing machine as set forth in claim 16 wherein stop means are provided on said tool to limit rotation of the screwdriver-like element to a preselected angle which efiects lock and release operation of said locking device.

18. The combination in a book pressing machine as set forth in claim 17 wherein said screwdriver-like element is supported on said tool for vertical sliding movement, and wherein an upwardly acting biasing spring and an upward vertical stop means is provided to provide for 10 resilient downward and slot entering movement of the screwdriver-like element and for upward movement of the same under the urging of the spring to an inoperative position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,921,322 1/1960 Crawley et a1. 111 2,969,554 1/1961 McCahon 11-1 3,016,550 l/l962 Schramm 111 LAWRENCE CHARLES, Primary Examiner. 

